Submitted by drew on

All of this stuff is freeware.

Graphics Projects

IrfanView

For image viewing and very simple editing (such as cropping, scaling, rotating, etc)



GIMP

For raster artwork/editing. Like Microsoft Paint on super steroids.

It does have some vector editing tools.



Illustrator (ok, this one's not free)

For vector artwork.

This is also usually my main workspace for a new project, where I add all the different pieces into the final layout.

A freeware alternative would be Inkscape



LibreOffice

This is an office suite similar to Microsoft Office. It has equivalents to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. It also has a vector drawing program which I have not really used on its own, but it can draw boxes and things within PowerPoint and the other programs in the suite.

Slideshow Projects

Here's various free software that can be used to make slideshows. The Microsoft ones are probably easiest to use. DVD Slideshow GUI is a bit more complex, but the most configurable.



Microsoft Live Movie Maker

Create a WMV video file from images.

   Download: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/features/movie-maker

   Tutorial: http://voices.yahoo.com/create-slideshow-microsoft-movie-maker-tutorial-2724966.html



Microsoft Photo Story

Create a WMV video file from images. This is an older product, but some people find it better in some ways than Movie Maker.

   Download: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/photostory/default.mspx

   Tutorial: http://millie.furman.edu/mll/tutorials/photostory3/index.htm



IrfanView

Create either a script that reads images out of a folder or create a single executable file containing all of the images. If you just want to read a bunch of files out of a folder without an intermediate output, this is probably the way to go.

   Download: http://www.irfanview.com/

   Tutorial: http://www.butterscotch.com/tutorial/Creating-A-Slideshow



LibreOffice Impress with PhotoAlbum plugin

Create a PowerPoint presentation from images.

   Download (LibreOffice): http://www.libreoffice.org/download/

   Download (plugin): http://extensions.services.openoffice.org/en/project/PhotoAlbum

   Tutorial (old): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-DMrYi0yvs



DVD Slideshow GUI

Has a whole bunch of different output options, including video file, upload to YouTube, or burn to DVD.

(Note: Durations are in number of frames, not seconds. Using one of the NTSC options, one second is 30 frames.)

   Download: http://download.videohelp.com/tin2tin/

   Tutorial: http://download.videohelp.com/tin2tin/tutorials.html



Flash Slide Show Maker

   Download: http://www.flash-slideshow-maker.com/myspace-slideshow-free/

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Software

Installing GBridge on Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10

Submitted by drew on

 

Just because I don't want to have to look this up again. Windows 8's driver signing enforcement prevents installing GBridge's network drivers. I posted how to work around that on gbridge.net forums when I was testing the Windows 8 preview, but their forum is offline now.

Windows 8

This method works for Professional or Home versions.

Grape Harvest

Submitted by drew on

 

I finally got a full harvest off of this vine (before birds, etc.) These grapes are pretty sour, if you just pick and eat. And seedy. However, I always thought they might make good jelly or something. So this year, I have lots of grapes to try something.

Basically, the process is:

Raspberry-Vanilla Pudding

Submitted by drew on

We have a picnic on July 4 where we are supposed to bring a dish. An hour before the picnic... what should we bring? We have lots of fresh-picked raspberries and that vanilla pudding I got last week. After a few minutes of Google-searching for things that use those two ingredients (no results, except for baked items and stuff of the wrong kind), I am going to make my own recipe for this.

Five Crunch Mix

Submitted by drew on
 
Five different textures of crunch for a delightful and versatile snack that doesn't leave your taste buds feeling like you drank an ocean of saltwater.
 
Shake together in a container (or snack bag) in the desired proportions....
  • honey nut cheerios
  • pretzels (thin style, broken in pieces)
  • unsalted peanuts
  • Spanish peanuts
  • banana chips
  • raisins
 
I usually go heavy on the cheerios.